Andre Reed is disappointed, but not dejected about another Hall of Fame snub

Those close to the former Dieruff High and Kutztown University product wonder why Cris Carter was elected, but not Reed.

February 02, 2013|By Keith Groller, Of The Morning Call

A lot of glum faces dotted the bar area and dining room at the 1760 Pub and Grille in Trexlertown early Saturday night after The NFL Network's "Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Show" had revealed that Andre Reed would have to wait yet another year for induction in Canton.

But amid the gloominess, Tyrone Reed, Andre's brother, whistled loudly to get everyone's attention and put things in proper perspective.

"Obviously, this is a disappointment," Tyrone Reed shouted to the crowd "It is in line with the disappointments we've had the last seven years. But it is OK.

"Let's just keep in mind that a kid from DYC, the Downtown Youth Center in Allentown right near the A&B Meats factory where the Reeds all grew up, has made it to be mentioned as a Hall of Famer. Let's not lose sight of that. So as disappointing as it may be now, please keep it in perspective."

Reed, the former Dieruff High School, Kutztown University and Buffalo Bills standout, was one of the 15 Hall of Fame finalists for the seventh straight year and for the fourth consecutive Super Bowl weekend he survived the first cutdown to the final 10.

However, Cris Carter, the former Minnesota Vikings receiver and ESPN analyst, who did not make the final 10 two years while Reed did, leapfrogged him to gain induction.

Carter will be joined at the Aug. 3 ceremony by two-time Super Bowl champion coach Bill Parcells, Cowboys offensive guard Larry Allen, Ravens offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden and Buccaneers defensive tackle Warren Sapp. Those five were the modern-era selections and former Chiefs defensive tackle Curley Culp and Packers linebacker David Robinson were chosen as seniors candidates.

As has become tradition, close to 200 members of Reed's family, friends, former teammates and coaches gathered in anticipation of what could have been one of the biggest nights in Lehigh Valley sports history.

Instead, most left disappointed and shaking their heads wondering how Carter had leapfrogged Reed in the process while not making a single catch since his career ended in 2002.

"I don't know how he can go in, and Andre can't. … That's a surprise to me," said Dion Reed, another of Andre's brothers. "It's very disappointing."

As was the case a year ago, Dion knew the results before anybody in the Lehigh Valley because Andre had sent him a text message from New Orleans, where the candidates were discussed and voted on by a 46-member panel Saturday.

Later, Dion and Andre had a brief phone conversation.

"He put it in perspective and said he wasn't real upset," Dion Reed said. "Obviously, he's disappointed. But he knows it's not the ultimate. His family comes first and he wants his family to be healthy, especially his daughter, who has had some struggles. As important as it seems, this isn't everything.

"He said to tell everybody back home that he loves them. He appreciates all of his former coaches coming out as well as all the people from the old neighborhood and the new neighborhood. There has been so much support for him. Remember, too, everybody in our family went to Dieruff. We all appreciate the turnout. It's one big reunion every year."

They'll all likely gather again next year when the Super Bowl and Hall of Fame selection process will unfold much closer to the Lehigh Valley. The big game will be held Feb. 2, 2014, at MetLife Stadium in the Meadowlands and many complementary events will be held in New York City.

Some comfort can be drawn from the fact that after several years of canceling each other's votes, the logjam at wide receiver has been broken with Carter going in and Reed clearly establishing himself ahead of Tim Brown, who failed to make the top 10.

But next season, former Colts standout Marvin Harrison becomes eligible for the first time.

Mark Gaughan of the Buffalo News, a Hall of Fame voter and the person who presented Reed to the committee, said on Twitter that Carter's 130 touchdown receptions to Reed's 87 was the deciding factor.

But Gaughan also tweeted: "Tho Bills fans will be disappointed, it's good for Reed that Carter got in. He and Carter had been splitting the WR vote."

Doug Leonzi, son of former Kutztown University football coach Al Leonzi and the president of Reed's charitable foundation, said he talked to him late Saturday afternoon.

"He told me he was doing great and when I said I had a good feeling about this year, he just said 'When it happens, it happens,' " Leonzi said. "He had a good outlook on things.

"The voting is surprising in that Carter leapfrogged Andre. You never know what the voters are thinking and how they make their collective decision. To me, Cris Carter, Tim Brown and Andre all deserve to be in the Hall of Fame, and eventually, they'll all be there."

A considerable amount of money for Reed's charities were raised by a raffle at Saturday's party and much more fundraising will occur June 22-24 when Reed's annual celebrity golf tournament returns to the Lehigh Valley.